HD 118- Antuna supports Leininger

House District 118 has not voted for a Republican since before the dawn of man. Over time it has be redrawn to be a tight 54% Democratic district and pundits are saying George Antuna might just be the first Republican to win in 118 even though it took a runoff to become the candidate (unlike Joe Farias).

Yesterday the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosted a “Candidate Conversation” to ask a few questions and get a first hand look at the difference between Joe Farias and George Antuna.

Shockingly Antuna came out boldly and publicly for a state funded voucher program after a session that did nothing to help schools.

A source in the Farias campaign has this to say about Antuna’s questionable political call.

Now it's no surprise to any of us that a Republican candidate in Texas would be supporting school vouchers. Except Antuna has been described as a cross between Frank Madla and Joe Straus- a moderate Republican willing to work across party lines in a 54% Democratic district. Yet with Antuna's firm support for school vouchers, and believe me there was no wishy-washiness about it, it seems his mantle of 'moderate Republican' has been forsaken.

Conservative Antuna appears to be showing how far removed he is from the ideology of HD 118. By supporting a scheme that will “cripple our public schools”, Antuna, is saying he opposes teacher pay raises, new text books, increased funding for school facilities, and increases in property taxes to pay the difference. Why? It is impossible for the state to subsidies a $5,000 (or more) private education and still fix the problems caused by the education funding cuts created by Madla, Gov Perry, Lt Gov Dewhurst, and the rest of the Republican leadership.

Let’s say only 1,000 people want to use this program in the ENTIRE state of Texas (foolish I know). The increase in spending for private education would be $5,000,000. Would you vote for a candidate that would have paid me to go to Trinity University instead of helping your child? I didn’t think so. It is not the job of the state to fund private institutions.

The same source summed up their feeling on Antuna’s campaign.

As a matter of fact, Antuna's entire campaign seems to be centered around the fact that he (briefly) lived in the voter-rich, Democrat heavy Southside of HD-118 and that he's Mexicano. As if Democratic lifers will not only switch parties, but vote for a hard right-winger, just because the Republican running has a Latino surname.

Antuna’s public statement should be of concern. What usually happens when a radical conservative dictates a plan that would harm our children and schools? James Leininger funds their entire campaign in the tune of around six figures.

Again, the source:

Antuna's no moderate. That's why the San Antonio Police Officer's Association, the Texas State Teacher's Association, the Texas Federation of Teacher's, the Texas League of Conservation Voters and other organizations and individuals have already come out and endorsed Joe Farias.